Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has described the recent orientation programme for newly elected council chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors as part of measures aimed at repositioning the local government system for effective and efficient service delivery at the grassroots level.
He stated this while flagging off the training programme for the second batch of local government officials comprising Brass, Nembe, Sagbama and Yenagoa councils, at the Perdis Hotel and Events Centre, Yenagoa.
Underscoring the importance of the two-day exercise, he said local government officials needed to be taught the rudiments of effective and accountable administration of the local government councils to enable them make impact in governance.
A statement issued by the media aide to the Deputy Governor, Mr Doubara Atasi, quoted him assuring that the Senator Douye Diri-led administration would continue to work closely with local government councils in line with the rule of law to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
He maintained that the leadership at the local government level was crucial to the state government because the councils are the first respondents to the basic needs of the people.
The Deputy Governor urged the newly elected officials to take the training seriously and brace up for the challenges ahead, stressing that the era when local government operators regarded payment of salaries as their one and only duty was over.
He, however, noted with delight that local government councils in the state could now embark on projects due to effective supervisory measures put in place to check wastage and poor performance.
“The local governments are very important to us. That’s why since assumption of office in 2020, the Prosperity Government has left no stone unturned to see how we can make the local governments more effective, efficient and productive.
“What we want is that local governments must also be reliable contributors to development of our state, and actively participate in the provision of the dividends of democracy to the people”, he said.
“Leadership of the local governments is crucial for us because we believe that they are the first respondents when it comes to development and the dividends of democracy at the grassroots level.
“The states are just secondary respondents, while the Federal Government is not a respondent at all, in terms of development of our local governments.
“This workshop or orientation programme is very key and dear to our heart as a government. First, it gives you an opportunity to know your colleagues who are going to work with you at that tier of government.
“Secondly, It will enable you to know or know more about the rudiments of local government administration and governance. So, this workshop is critical and crucial. I therefore encourage you to pay full attention”, he added.
Delivering his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Development, Mr. Collins Ifidi, stressed that governance was a serious assignment which required broad capacity, knowledge and understanding of roles.
Mr Ifidi explained that the training was targeted at building a stable and functional local government system that would cater for the developmental needs of the people at the grassroots, and assured the council officials of the Ministry’s continued guidance and support.
Speaking on behalf of the trainees, the Chairman-elect of Nembe Local Government Area, Chief David Alagoa, expressed gratitude to Governor Diri for graciously approving the training programme.
He also expressed the appreciation of the council officials to the state Deputy Governor, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Development for facilitating the programme, and the resource persons for their intellectual input.

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has revealed that the reforms initiated and implemented by his administration led to the saving of the sum of N2.3 billion for the local government councils.
The governor disclosed this recently at the opening ceremony of an orientation programme organised for newly-elected local government council chairmen, vice chairmen, councilors and principal officers at Perdis Hotel, Akenfa.
Gov Diri stated that on assumption of office in 2020, some local government councils were highly indebted and unable to pay salaries but his administration took measures that resulted in regular payment of salaries, execution of projects and saving of funds.
The Bayelsa State Chief Executive restated his call on the Federal Government to create additional local councils in the state, saying it was injustice for some states to have more than 40 councils and receiving monthly allocation from the Federation Accounts Allocation Commission (FAAC), while the state had only eight.
He charged the newly elected local government officials to make good use of the two-day workshop to equip themselves with the requisite knowledge to carry out their responsibilities.
The governor also called on them to work as a team to ensure that development was felt at the grassroots.
“Local governments as at 2020 were unable to pay salaries, particularly Nembe, Ogbia, Ekeremor and Sagbama. There was some form of dissatisfaction in the system.
“After I went through the recommendations of the Deputy Governor, whom I entrusted with investigating the local government, I wasted no time in approving the recommendations.
“The recommendations included the ban on loans from any source by local government chairmen without approval of the governor; compulsory savings by every council; and the division of balance after payment of salaries into 60 and 40 per cent respectively. One part was for compulsory savings and the other to project implementation and immediate commencement of computerisation of their payroll as well as compulsory quarterly award of projects by each council chairman.
“We found a lot of fraud in the local government system. But as it stands today, our councils have N2.3billion as a result of the combination of the factors of reforms and proper supervision of that tier of government.
“The breakdown is N400million compulsory savings while N1.9 billion for capital projects. This is aside from the one done by caretaker committees in terms of project execution within the short period they stayed”, the governor said.
Gov Diri assured of his administration’s  commitment to support the councils to achieve their goals and expressed  confidence that the new officials would meet the expectations of the people.
“We firmly believe that good governance begins at the grassroots level. That is precisely why we have gathered here to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to improve our local government administration and  enhance service delivery.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

The Eze Oruamara/Regent of Okwuzi Kingdom in Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the State, Eze Victor Afaka, has sued for peace among the political class in the State.
Eze Afaka made the appeal while speaking with The Tide on the sidelines of the governorship victory thanksgiving service by the Ogba Egbema /Ndoni Chapter of the Simplified Movement in Omoku.
He said Governor Fubara should be allowed to display the vision that God has given to him to govern the state.
According to him, since every administration has its term and tenure, the man presently at the helm of affairs in Rivers State must be given the opportunity to complete his own term and tenure.
“I advise politicians to sheathe their sword and allow peace to reign. Politics and governance have their terms and tenure. When it is your tenure, you have your vision to display; when you conclude that vision God has given you as a leader of your community or of a state, you step aside and leave the next person to display the vision God has given to him” he said.
The traditional ruler said he and  his people, including the youth, women and the Ogbakor Egbema, decided to attend the service because of the excellent vision of Governor Fubara
“We are happy, Okwuzi people are in full support of the government, the government of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara”, he added.
He said that the governor’s peaceful disposition to governance has endeared him to His Kingdom, noting that Okwuzi kingdom was already a beneficiary of the present administration’s purposeful governance as the Omoku/Okwuzi road abandoned 10 years ago, was nearing completion.
“ONELGA, Okwuzi are benefitting from his government.The road that was abandoned for ten years is being completed right now and we know that there are so many other things he will do for us”, he said.
While urging the state government to give desired attention to the Okwuzi General Hospital that is in a state of dilapidation, Eze Afaka entreated Governor Fubara not to be distracted, but to continue to promote peace and development across the State.

John Bibor